Kwentua Victoria, Marshall Allison, Chuang Ru-Jye, Chen Jessica, Markham Christine, Mathur Mallika, Pomeroy Mike, Hall Megan, Sharma Shreela
Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX77030, USA.
Department of Human Science, Georgetown University School of Health, Washington, DC20007, USA.
Public Health Nutr. 2025 Jan 9;28(1):e40. doi: 10.1017/S136898002400260X.
We qualitatively examine the grocery shopping behaviours and fruit and vegetable consumption of low-income families participating in the Brighter Bites program in Houston, Texas.
We used a single-group observational study design. We used (1) purposive sampling of schools and (2) convenience sampling of parents/caregivers to recruit participants. Research staff conducted three face-to-face qualitative focus groups in Spanish and English. Transcripts were coded using deductive and inductive reasoning.
Three elementary schools serving low-income families in Houston, Texas, in February-May of 2022.
Brighter Bites parents/caregivers from the 2021-2022 school year.
Three primary themes emerged: (1) child involvement in grocery shopping - most parents/caregivers shop with their children. Children sometimes bring their own grocery lists, select their produce or help by counting produce; (2) the importance of balancing quality and affordability of fruits and vegetables purchased - both when selecting stores and choosing produce; (3) exposure to new varieties and higher quality of fruits and vegetables through Brighter Bites programming - parents/caregivers reported purchasing new fruits and vegetables as a result of participating in Brighter Bites.
Findings can inform nutrition education programming and policies targeting fruit and vegetable consumption for low-income families. Child involvement may be a good target for nutrition-based behaviour change programs. Nutrition programs and policies should consider both produce affordability and quality. Exposure and opportunities to try new fruits and vegetables can lead to future purchases of new produce. Findings can also inform grocery stores' efforts to understand low-income families' purchasing habits, preferences and priorities.
我们对参与德克萨斯州休斯顿“光明饮食”计划的低收入家庭的杂货店购物行为以及水果和蔬菜消费情况进行了定性研究。
我们采用了单组观察性研究设计。我们通过（1）对学校进行目的抽样和（2）对家长/照顾者进行便利抽样来招募参与者。研究人员用西班牙语和英语开展了三场面对面的定性焦点小组讨论。对文字记录采用演绎推理和归纳推理进行编码。
2022年2月至5月，在德克萨斯州休斯顿为低收入家庭服务的三所小学。
来自2021 - 2022学年的“光明饮食”计划的家长/照顾者。
出现了三个主要主题：（1）孩子参与杂货店购物——大多数家长/照顾者会和孩子一起购物。孩子们有时会带上自己的购物清单，挑选农产品或帮忙数农产品；（2）购买水果和蔬菜时平衡质量和可承受性的重要性——无论是选择商店还是挑选农产品时；（3）通过“光明饮食”计划接触到新品种和更高质量的水果和蔬菜——家长/照顾者报告称，由于参与“光明饮食”计划而购买了新的水果和蔬菜。
研究结果可为针对低收入家庭水果和蔬菜消费的营养教育计划及政策提供参考。让孩子参与可能是基于营养的行为改变计划的一个良好目标。营养计划和政策应同时考虑农产品的可承受性和质量。接触和尝试新水果和蔬菜的机会可能会促使未来购买新的农产品。研究结果还可为杂货店了解低收入家庭购买习惯、偏好和优先事项的努力提供参考。
